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Sxm Delegation To Ipko Holds First Round Of Talks

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Parliamentary delegation of St. Maarten to the Inter-parliamentary Kingdom Consultations (IPKO) talks in Holland arrived well over the weekend and is already embroiled in meetings which form part of the talks which will culminate on the 29 of this month.

The talks consist of delegations from Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten and the Netherlands.

We contacted MP the Honorable Read more

Ministers to face MPs this week about missing info

PHILIPSBURG--Ministers of the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet are to be called before Parliament's Permanent Committee for Kingdom Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Relations to provide information the committee has requested for several months.

The committee became displeased two weeks ago with the sluggish pace of government's response and issued a 48-hour deadline for all information to be submitted Read more

Parliamentary Committee For Kingdom Affairs And Inter Parliamentary Relations Preparing For Holland Talks

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The Parliamentary committee for Kingdom affairs and inter parliamentary relations meet on Monday morning.

During their meeting the committee which is chaired by MP Sarah Wescot-Williams handled matters pertaining to the upcoming Tri Partite and IPKO meeting which are scheduled to take place in Holland from May 25th to the 29th.

Chairlady Wescot-Williams also confirmed during the meeting that the tentative agenda for the meeting has been received.

There is however one area of urgency and that is with relevant and important information that is needed from government.

MP's the Honorable Cornelius de Weever and Leona Romeo Marlin is adamant that government not only come to parliament to provide the vital information needed in order to prepare for the Tri Partite and IPKO meeting but also that they come with the information and not just tell parliament where they can find it.

President of Parliament Dr Read more

Candlelight Memorial

A large gathering reflected on this year’s theme “Supporting the future” at the annual St. Maarten AIDS Foundation and Helping Ourselves in a Positive Environment HOPE International Candlelight Memorial at Carl’s Unique Inn on Sunday. The event was attended by several government officials, including Health Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs and Member of Parliament Cornelius de Weever, donors, well-wishers and supporters from all walks of life Read more

SMART hosts 14th annual tradeshow

MAHO--The on-going fourteenth St. Martin/St. Maarten Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART), dubbed the most important tradeshow of the Northeastern Caribbean, hosted its main day of activities at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino yesterday, May 14.

Although attendance was not as high as the 2014 event, which boasted one of the best turnouts in years, even participants who did not make any new connections pointed to the importance and usefulness of the annual event that targets local, regional and international tourism stakeholders.

However, noticeable was the lack of participants from South America that had been a major characteristic in 2014, and the non-presence of some regional islands Read more

Airport breaks ground for cargo building renovation

AIRPORT--A symbolic ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday kicked off the US $4.6 million renovation of the Princess Juliana International Airport SXM cargo building. The more-than-three-decades-old building will be given a much-needed facelift and offices for eight new cargo handlers. The project is slated for completion in May 2016.

Airport Managing Director Regina Labega told the gathering at the ground-breaking ceremony in the building's parking lot that the building was "in need of an urgent facelift."

That facelift was described by Labega as "a complete multi-million-dollar makeover" that will be carried out by four contractors chosen via a public tender Read more

>PHILIPSBURG:---  President of Parliament Hon. Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Vice President and Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Leona Marlin-Romeo, and Vice President MP Hon. Cornelius de Weever, who form the Presidium of Parliament, met with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Read more

MPs review options for new building

PHILIPSBURG--The creation of a building team and deciding on whether to opt for government lease land or to purchase a parcel for the construction of a new Parliament Building were among the topic Members of Parliament (MPs) dealt with in a meeting of Ad Hoc Committee for the New Parliament Building on Friday morning.

The meeting, chaired by United People's (UP) party MP Franklin Meyers, was originally opened to the public, but was closed after committee members decided "due to the sensitivity" of the subject that the meeting should be closed.

Independent MP Cornelius de Weever has suggested before the closure for the committee to get a list of available land from government that is suitable for the building MPs want to have constructed.

Meyers said a list of possible locations was on hand as well as some possible options of private land for purchase.

United St Read more

SMHGC and Checkmate Security Contract does not look legitimate says MPs.

style="text-align: center;">Handwritten changes was made on the contract, which is termed as being illegal.

PHILPSBURG:---- During the continuation meeting on Thursday regarding the contract between Checkmate Security and Government owned company St. Maarten Harbor Group of Companies (SMHGC) Members of Parliament were told that there is only one contract between the government owned company and Checkmate Security, and that Members of Parliament cannot obtain a copy but could only peruse the five page document Read more

Kingdom Affairs Committee Gives Government 48 Hours To Get Act Together

St. Maarten – The Permanent Committee of Kingdom Affairs met on Tuesday morning in preparation for the Inter-Parliamentary Consultation of the Kingdom (IPKO) conference in the Netherlands from May 25th to May 29th. The council of Ministers is still to answer pertinent questions from the committee who submitted several questions to the council weeks ago. Members of the committee believe that it is vital for the sector heads and Ministers to come with answer to the questions, this will allow the Members of parliament to be prepared for the meetings in the Netherlands.

Acting chair of the committee, Member of Parliament (MP) Cornelius de Weever opened the meeting after 10AM on Tuesday and received the approval of the decision list for the IPKO meeting Read more

Parliament puts Govt on deadline

PHILIPSBURG--Government has 24 to 48 hours, to provide information to Parliament's Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations and Inter-Parliamentary Affairs or face a summons for ministers to appear before the committee.

Members of Parliament (MPs) serving on the committee and other MPs have had enough of government not providing requested information the committee needs to prepare for the tripartite and Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultation IPKO set for May 25 to 29, in The Hague.

Independent MP Leona Marlin-Romeo said in the committee meeting on Tuesday morning, if government continues to miss deadlines Parliament will have no choice but to call in the ministers.

Thus far, only some information has been received from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour; however, that information still has some gaps which Marlin-Romeo will attempt to have filled by sending a follow-up to the ministry.

Deputy Committee Chairman independent MP Cornelius de Weever told fellow MPs that Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs had informed him prior to the meeting that his secretary-general will look into the needed information.

De Weever will communicate the deadline as agreed on in the committee to government along with the caveat that if the information is not received, the defaulting ministers will be called before the committee very soon.

In other matters, all political parties that are yet to supply information about its structure, operations and method of dealing with integrity breaches have until the end of this week to submit the information to the committee, said De Weever Read more

National Day Of Remembrance Held Monday (Ii)

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The National Day of Remembrance Ceremony 2015 was held on Monday morning at the Captain Hodge Wharf in Philipsburg at 9.00AM.

The ceremony remembered the sacrifice made by those who defended us in the 2nd World War and those who have served in various peace missions.

On hand for the remembrance ceremony was the Governor of St. Maarten the Honorable Eugene Holiday, Prime Minister the Honorable Read more

Corallo says opening of Starz is ‘first step’ of ‘bigger project’

CUPECOY--The Atlantis Group inaugurated its Starz City concept and celebrated the rebranding of Atlantis Casino to Starz Casino on Friday.

The rebranding of the casino marks the "first step" of a bigger project that will include a hotel and commercial centre.

A large cross section of the community, including several dignitaries, attended the inauguration of Starz City. Atlantis World Group owner Francesco Corallo told The Daily Herald during the inauguration that plans were afoot to construct a 120-room hotel and commercial centre in the area.

"We have to upgrade our product and that is what I try to do myself with my small environment," Corallo said in a brief interview Read more

style="text-align: center;">Construction of Hotel to start by September at "Starz City" ---  Francisco Corrallo

CUPECOY:--- Over three thousands persons across St. Maarten/ St. Martin were invited on Friday night to the grand opening of the newly rebranded Atlantis Casino. Businessman Francisco Corrallo told SMN News that the opening of the Starz Casino and more is a new beginning for the business he managed over the years Read more